Clutch for corn-planters.



L. M. BUCHANAN. CLUTCH FOR CORN PLANTEH-S. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26, 1911.

Patented July 30, 1912.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

L. M. BUCHANAN.

CLUTCH FOR CORN PLANTBRS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26 1911.

1,033,869. Patented July 30,1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

l ikmwm L. M. BUCHANAN.

CLUTCH FOR CORN PLANTERS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26, 1911.

1,033,869. Patented July 30, 1912.

4 SHEBTS-SHEET 3.

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Patented July 30, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4;.

qg ibneoocn 991a uc nklrw UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

LAUGHLIN M. BUCHANAN, OF KEWALTEE, ILLINJIS.

CLUTCH FOB COBN-PLANTERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July so, 1912..

Application filed December 26, 1911. Serial No. 667,882.

To all whom/it may concern:

mechanism particularly adapted for corn planters by means of which the seed-plate of the planter may be given a predetermined amount of rotation at each operation of the check-rower mechanism.

Moreparticularly still my invention, relates to a new and improved clutch mechanism by which the predetermined amount of the rotation of the seed-plate may be varied so as to vary the number of grains dropped in each hill according to the nature and requirements of the soil.

One of the main features of my invention lies in the fact that the two clutch members are not immediately engaged by the operation of the check-rower devices.-

My device is of such a character that it v contalns a mechanlsm intermediate the .two

clutch members in the form of a lever shaped dog, which, upon the operation of the check- 'ow mechanism, is first caused to engage the continuously moving clutch member so as to-be rotated there-with and thereupon, after it has got started to rotate with the continuously rotating clutch member, the intermediate member is caused to engage the other clutch member. which is fixed on the seed-shaft so as to rot-ate the second clutchmember and with itthe seedshaft and seed-plate. Means are provided also by which the point at which the intermediate member engages theclutch member fixed on the seed-shaftmay be varied so as to vary the amount of rotation given to said secondclutch member, the seed-shaft and seed-plate.

and consequently to One great advantage in'this form of construction lies in the fact that the load is-not immediately thrown'upon the clutch members at the instant of'the operation of "the clutch-rower mechanism, but the. engaging intermediate me mber is first set in motion before it'en-- gages the. second clutch member therebysavmg great wear and frequent breaking of the teeth.

To that end 'my device, generally speaking, comprises a shaft, a clutch memplanter,

ber loosely mounted on said seed-shaft and adapted to be continuously driven by suitable means as by the carryingwheels of the a second clutch member fixed to the shaft, an intermediate member or lever-dog loosely mounted on the shaft and normally yieldingly held out of engagement with either clutch member but adapted by each movement of the check-rower mechanism to be moved into engagement with the loose clutch member, and a cam-like device which is adapted to engage theintermediate member after it has engaged the loose clutch member and move the intermediate member intoengagement with the fixed clutch memher. The device is also, of course, adapted I to automatically restore the intermediate member to a normal position at the end of a predetermined rotation. The device also, like all clutches. of this description, is adapted to, complete its operation in less time than the time elapsing between successive operations of the check-rower mechanism so as to make proper allowance for slippage of the wheels and irregularities of the ground and insure the predetermined amount of rotation of the seed-plate well within the space between the rows. I accomplish this object by the means shown in .the drawings and hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to .be new will be set forth in the claims.

In the drawings ;-Figure 1 vationof a corn planter containing my invention; Fig. 2 is a top or plan; view of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail being a side elevation of the clutch; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail being a side elevation of the clutch with the casing and movable cam uremoved so as to show the clutch members and intermediate devices; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail being a view of the clutch member with the intermediate device shown as moved into position to engage the loose clutch member; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail being a view of the same partsfshown in Fig. 3,1oartiallv in vertical section; Fig; 7 is an enlarged detail being a vertical section on line 7-7 of Fig. 2, but showing the intermediate device partially moved around to be engaged by'the cam which throws it into engagement with the fixed clutch member;- and Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail being a view of the intermediate member orlocking dog.

Referring to the drawings indicates 's a side elethe front frame and the rear frame of the planter. The front frame is provided with the usual check-rower devices includingvfork levers as 11. on a rock-shaft 12 journaled in the front frame. The rear frame is provided with the usual axle 13 journaled therein and carrying wheels 14 mounted on said axle. The front frame also is provided ;with the usual seed-boxes 15 which carry seed-plates of any .well known pattern and description bein ,vided with cups or seed-cells adap ed to contain a single grain of corn.

The seed-plates are not shown as they may be of any well-known form and mounted in any well-known way andform no part of my present invention.

, Ltd-indicates a seed-shaft which is journale'din the front frame of the planter and isl-connected by any suitable gearing in the well-known manner with the seed-plates to actuate the same when the seed-shaft is retated. As this gearing may be of any wellknown character and formsno part of my present invention I have not shown he same as it will be readily understood and to show it would unnecessarily encumber the drawings. v

.17 indicates a clutchmember which is provided on its edge with a plurality of teeth 18 and which is loosely mounted on the 'seed-shaft 16. v

19 indicates a sprocket which is loosely mounted on the seed-shaft 16 and is adapted to be continuously driven by a sprocketsprocket-wheel 19 are yieldingly held in position on the shaft byaJSPjml spring 23 interposed between the sprobket-wheel 19 and collar 24 held in positionfby suitable cotter-pin 25. v 1E.

26 indicates a second ,clutch ,rmember which is fixed in any manner as by a pin 27 to the seed shaft 16 so as to rotate therewith. The clutch member-26 is provided with a plurality/of teeth..28. These teeth will be' at-least one more in number Ethan the greatest number of seedkernels adapted to be dropped at each operation of tlie check-rower mechanism. For instance,

in the form of my \deviceflwhich is shown, it

.is adapted to 'drop eithei'tivo, three or four kernels in each hill and the ffixed clutch member 26 is, therefore, provided with five teeth. The purpose of this will behereinafter described.

29 indieatesna sleeve which is journaled on the shaft 16. ""1

30 indicates a lever-dog which is pivoted pro-. I

so as to rock thereon.

' 32 indicates a roller on one end of the,

lever-dog 30; Theyintermediate member or lever-dog 30 is yleldingly .held normally out of engagement with the loose clutch member 117 by means of a spring 33 which bears at one end against one arm of the inf against a lug 34 carried on sleeve 29.

35 indicates a cam'on the cheek-rower shaft 12 which, when the, said shaft is rocked by the operation of the cheek-rower devices, is adapted to engage theroller 32 and swing it to the right'in Figs."3' and 4 causing it to be engaged by the tooth 18 of the loose clutch member 17 so as )to be rotated on the ,shaft 16 with the rotation of termediate member and at the other jend the loose clutch member 17. Figs. 3and 4 show the intermediate member; in normal position. Figs. 5 and 6 show it movedout of normal position so't'hat on'e'arm is engaged with the loose clutch member by the operation of the check-rower; shaft.

36 indicates a casing whifia is "suitably mounted {upon-the front fra e and which incloses the fixed clutch member 26. The casing generally hemispherical in form and carries upon its inner {edge preferably formed, integral therewith a clrcular bearing ledge-37 concentric with the seed-shaft 16. The bearing ledge 37 is at such adistance from the centenof the shaft as to be 1 in register with a portion of the roller 32 as the member 30 is carried around as hereinafter described, and a portion of ,.this

ledge 37 ,as 38, is raised above the restof the ledge by slopes 3940 to such a height that while the roller 32 is passing over the portion 38 the leveris/still in engagement with the fixed clutch-member 26 until the slope 40 is reached. The slope 4L0 slopes downward and ends in a notch 37*, which is of such a .depth that when the roller 32 drops into it by the action of the spring. 33

the 'member' 30 is .freed from engagement with the lose clutch member 17. The rest of the bearing ledge 37 between the notch 37 and shoulder 39 is of such a height that when the roller32 bears upon it the end of the levter, on which the roller 32 is carried is in engagement with the teeth of the clutchinember 17, but the other arm is not engaged with the fixed clutch member 26.

41 indicates a hub which is journaled on the member 26 and which carries a spider 42 43 indicates an arc-shaped piece which is preferably formed integral with the'spider 42 and which is slidingly mounted on a suitable bearing ledge, sis l4, on the casing 361st) that the hub may be turned and the osition of the support 43 varied on the 36. By means of a suitable pin, as ed withan operating handle, as 46, the'arc-isha'ped piece may be locked in several positions on the casing 36, for the purpose hereinafter 'described. The pin 15 is spring-seated in the member 43 and is adapted to engage at its lower end with either one of a plurality of notches 474@849 in the casing 26. In the form of my mechanism shown these are three in number so that the spider and member &3 may be locked in either one of three positions for the pur-' pose hereinafter described.

50 indicates an arc-shaped cam which is mounted on the member 43, preferably 'integnal therewith, and is formed upon an are so that when the parts are in position the arc is concentric with the shaft 16. This cam lies parallel with the bearing ledge 37, which is shown in Fig. 7, and is adapted to engage the roller 32 on the intermediate memberiSO when the same is carried around by its engagement 'with the loose clutch member 17 and rock the intermediate member still further into deeper engagement with the teeth on the clutch member 17 and to bring its otherarm into engagement with one of-the teeth of the clutch member 26 fixed 1he shaft 16. It will be obvious fr: "11 the abovethat as the cam 50 is moved with the spider 4 2 into different positions the point in the revolution of the intermediate member at which it will engage the fixed clutch member may be varied. The eam 50 is so positioned that it will always engage the roller, in whatever position the cam is adjusted, before it reaches the raised bearing portion 38, and inasmuch as the raised portion 88 engaging the roller 32 causes the engagement of the lever .30with' the fixed clutch member 26 until the roller passes down the slope 10 of ihe bearing ledge 37, a different degree of rotation is given to the fixed clutch member, according to the point at which the cam 50 engages the intermediate member 30 so as. to move it into position to engage the teeth of the fixed clutch member 26. The. cam 50 is of such length as to permit the roller 32 topass off from it upon the raised portion 38 of the bearing ledge 37, in whatever position the movable cam rests before the roller reaches the down slope 10, and into the notch 37 at. the end of one complete revolution of the clutch member 17 1 It will, of cotirsc, be understood that the runners of the corn planter as 51 are provided with suitable runner-Valves as 52- 53 5a by which the grains of corn are accumulated and dropped into the ground in a hill at each operation of-the checkrower mechanism. These runner-valves are operated by the check-rower shaft and may be of any well-known form or description, I have simply indicated one form for the purpose OfillllStIfitlOIl. i

ffhe operation of the mechanism vabove described is as f0llOWS i-Th6 spider-which is adapted to be operated by the. rider from his seat in any well-known way is first set "into the desired position according to' the number of grains desired to be dropped. Asit'is usual to drop three grains in each hill I have shown it 1n thefdrawings as set in that position, that is, with the pin .45

engaging the middle one 48 of the three notches, the machine being then drivenwith he usual check-rower wire in engagement with the fork 11. When the fork-lever is operated by'the usual button on the checkrower wire the rock-shaft 12 is rocked. T he cam 35 on the fork-lever by this rocking of the rock-shaft 12 engaging the roller .30

elevates it out of normal position in the notch or depression 37". This lifting ofthe intermediate member causes one end of it, just above the roller 32,. to be engaged by one of the teeth 18 of the loose clutch member 17 .which, of course,-is being continu ously r tated. Thus engaged the interme diate riember is carried around with the rotation of the loose clutch-member 17. Not

,being yet in engagement with the teeth of the fixed clutch member 26 the intermediate member passes two of its five teeth. As .it

revolves with'the loose clutch member 17 the roller 32 engages the cam 50 and riding up the slope of the cam is brought into a position to engage the third tooth of the clutch member 26. This causes the clutoh member 26 to rotate, carrying around with it the seed-shaft. 1G and thereby giving the seed-plate a sufficient degree ofjrotation to cause three cells to pass-under the usual.

cutoff to be discharged by the runnervalves.

from the loose clutch member, it moves oil from the cam 50 upon the raisedgportion 38 of bearing ledge 37 and then down slope 40. This dropping from the raised portion ofledge 37 down the slope, 40- freesthe end of the'lever 30 from engagement with the teeth of the fixed clutch member 26 for a moment, while the other end is still engaged with the teeth 18 of loose cam until the roller drops into notch 37. This frees the intermediate member from engagement withthe loose clutch memberuntil the next operation of the check-rower mechanism. Vith the next operation of the checkrower mechanism the seed accumulated by the above described operation is dropped in a'hill into the ground and the operation is repeated. Y

, If it is desired to qrop four grains of corn Before the'rot-ation is completed, and the intermediate member disengaged in the hill, bymeans of the handle 46 the tion and only one tooth of the fixed clutch member 26 will be skipped before the intermediate member engages it] and the fixed clutch member and thereby the seed-shaft and seed-plate will be given a greater amountof rotation so as to carry four seedcells past the usual cut-off. In case it is desired to drop only two grains to the-hill,

the spider is swung so that the pin 45 is in engagement with the last one 49 of the three notches rocking the spider and with it the cam 40 in a'contra-clock-wise direction so that three teeth of the fixed clutch member will be skipped before the intermediate member engages it, thereby giving the fixed clutch member and the seed-shaft andseedplate a less'degree of rotation suflieient to carry two seed-cells under the cut-ofl.' My device is so timed. that these operations will be performed'in considerably less space of travel of the planter than the distance between two r0Ws,that is to say, in less time than the time elapsing between the successive impulses of the check-rower wire,

For instance, if" the knots on the checkrower wire and,'consequently, the rows of corn are forty-two inches apart, the parts are so geared that one complete revolution of the loose-clutch member Will be made in .about twenty-eight inches of travel of the machine In this twenty-eight inches'of travel, supposing my machine' to be set to plant three grains of corn in the hill, im-

mediately following the impulse of the check-rower mechanism there will be first a space of time during which the intermediate member is rotated by the loose clutch member but during which the seed-plate will not be rotated. Then follows a space during which the seed-plate will be'rotated so as to cause three seed-cells to pass under the cut-off. Then the fixed clutch member will be disengaged from the intermediate member and a short interval. or momentof time follows during which the intermediate member will still be engaged by the loose clutch member and travel with it. Atthe end of the'twenty-oight inches of travel,- when one revolution of the loose clutch member is completed, the intermediate member drops into the notch out of engagement with the loose member and remains idle The operation.

gagemeilt with. said clutch members,""means for throwing said intermediate member into engagement with said first clutchv member at regular intervals fand a cam member.

adapted to engage 1 s'aidintermediate meme ber after 1t has been engaged by said first clutch member andimove it into engagement -with saidsecond clutch member.

2.; In combinationra shaft, a clutch mem-.

ber journaled on said shaft and means for continuously driving the same, a secondolutch member fixed on said shaft, an .in

termediate member jo'urnaled on saidshaft and normally held yi'eldingl' out of en agement with said clutch mem ers, means for throwing said intermediate member into engagement with said first. clutch member at regular intervals, a cam member adapted to engage said intermediate member after it hasbeen engaged by said first clutch mem-- ber and move it into engagement with said v second clutch member, and means for auto matically releasmg said lntermediatemember from engagement with said first clutch member at the end of a predetermined amount of rotation. 3. In combination, a shaft, a clutch member journaled onsaid shaft and means for continuously driving the same, a. second clutch member fixedon said shaft, an inter-.

mediate member journaled on said shaft and normally held yieldingly out of enga e-' ment with said clutch members, means or throwing said intermediate member into engagement withsaid first clutch memberat regular intervals, and a cam member adapted toengagesaid intermediate member after it has been engaged with. said'first ion clutch member and bring it into engagement with said second clutch member andjalso adapted to release said intermediate mem I ber from saidsecond clutchmember before said'intermediate memberv is released fromengagement with said first clutclrm'ember."

4. In combination, a. shaft, a clutchllmember jou'rna led on said shaft and means for continuously driving the same, a "second clutch member fixed on said shaft, an intermediate member journaled on said shaft and normally held yicldingly out-of engagement with said clutch members, means for throwing said intermediate member into engagement with said first clutch member at regular intervals, and-an adjustable cam member adapted to engage said intermediate member after it .has been engaged by said first clutch member and move itinto.

engagement with said second clutch member.

5. In combination, a shaft, a clutch member journaled on said shaft and means for continnously driving the same. a second clutchfmember fixed on said'shaft, an intermediate member journalcd on said shaft and normally held yieldingly out of engagement with said clutch members, means for throwing said intermediate member into engagement with said first clutch member at regular intervals, an adjustable cam member adapted to engage said intermediate member after it has been engaged by said first clutch member'and move it into engagement with said second clutch member,

and means for automatically releasing said member adapted to engage said intermediate clutch member and member after 'it'has been engaged With said first clutch member and bring it into. engagement with said second clutch member and also adapted to release said intermediate member from said second clutch member before said intermediate member is released from enga ement with said" first clutch member.

7. In a corn planter having check-rower appliances, in combination, a seed-shaft, a toothed clutch member rotatably mounted on said seed-shaft, means-for driving said clutch member continuously; from the wheels of said planter, a second clutch member fixed to said seed-shaft and having a plurality of teeth greater in number than the largest number of grains "desired to be droppedin a hill, a lever-dog journaled on said seed-shaft, means for moving one end of said lever-dog into engagement with a tooth of said first clutch member with each operation of the check-rower mechanism,'an adjustable cam adapted to engage sald leverdog after it has been engaged by said first move the other end of the same into engagement with said second clutch member, and means for'releasing said lever-dog from. engagement with said clutch members after a predetermined degree of movement.

8, In a corn planter having check-rower appliances, in combination, a seed-shaft, a tooihed clutch member rotatably mounted on said seed-shaft, means for driving said clutch member continuously from the wheels of said planter, a second clutch member sccured to saidv seed-shafthaving a plurality of'teeth greater in number than the largest number of grains desired to be dropped in a hill, a lever-dog journaled on said seed-' shaft, means for moving one end of said lever-dog into engagement with a tooth of I said first clutch member with each operation and largest number of grains mechanism, in combination,

of the chieck-rower mechanism, an adjustable'cam adapted. to engage said lever-dog after it has been engaged by said first clutch memberjand move the other end of the same into engagement with said second clutch member, and means for successively releasing said lever-dog from engagement with said second and said first clutchv members after a predetermined degree of movement.

9. In a corn planter having check-rower appliances, in combination, a seed-shaft, a toothed clutch member rotatably mounted on said seed-shaft, means for driving said clutch member continuously from the Wheels of said planter, a second clutch member fixed to said seed'shaft and having a plurality of teeth greater irfnumber than the desired to be dropped in a hill, a sleeve ournaled on saidv seed-shaft intermediate said clutch meme v bers, a lever-dog pivoted on said sleeve and normally held yieldingly out of engagement with said clutch members, means for moving oneen'd of said lever-dog into engagement 'with a. tooth of said first clutch member at each operation of the check-rower mechanism, an arc-shaped adjustable cam concen trio with said clutch members and adapted to engage said lever-dog after the same has been moved into engagement with said first clutch member and to move the same into engagement with said second clutch membcr, means for adjusting said cam in differ-f entpositions to varythe period at which said lever-dog is brought into engagement with said second clutch member, and means for successively freeing said lever-dog from engagement with said second clutch member and said first clutch memben 10. In a corn'planter having cheek-rower a seed-shaft, a clutch member loosely mounted on said seedshaft, second clutch member secured to said seed-shaft and having a plurality of teeth greater in number than the largest number of grains of corn desired to dr p in a hill, a sleeve journaled on said shat intermediate said clutch members, a leverdog pivoted on said sleeve, a rock-shaft operated by said check-rower mechanism, a cam on said rock-shaft adopted with each movement of said check-rower mechanism to engage one end of said lever-dog and move the same into engagement with said first clutch member, a circular bearing ridge concentric with said clutch members and having a depression in which one end of said lever-dog normal, position out of engagement with said clutch-members, an arc-shaped adjustable cam concentric with said clutch members and adapted to engage said lever-dog after the same has engaged with said first clutch member andmove theuother end of the same into position to engageone of the to cause a variation inv the time at which teeth of said second clutch member and also said lever-dog will be moved into position adapted to release said lever-dog from (211- to engage said second clutch members.

gafement with said second ,clutch' member LAUGHLIN M. BUCHANAN. be ore the said lever-dog drops into the de- Witnesses:

pression on saidbearing ledge, and means ALBERT H. ADAMS,

for adjusting said cam in difierent posit-ions MINNIE A. HUNTER. 

